NEW ORLEANS—This is the perfect Super Bowl scenario for Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed, returning to his hometown. Childhood memories have flashed through Reed’s mind all week.

“I’ve thought about the walks to practice by myself, at night, walking home from practice carrying my pads, with my dad’s work shirt over my shoulder pads,” Reed said. “Everything really gets put in perspective when you get to this point and you’re just really appreciative of the people that help you get here.

“It’s huge. Being at home, this is special.”

Reed said he was still trying to handle ticket requests.

“I would actually auction off tickets to random folk if I could,” Reed said. “I asked (Saints linebacker) Jonathan Vilma how he dealt with it in Miami, because he experienced it at home, and I’m doing the same thing. Everybody wants to come. You want everyone to come to the game.

“Honestly, I could fill the Superdome up, I could fill every seat. I would love to, but you can’t, so I want my family to know that right now. Things are starting to get a little pricey, but I’m just grateful to go through it. I could do this every year.”